SIL Translator’s Notes on John 2020 – Page 98

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 11:55

Paragraph 11:55–57

The Jewish people and their leaders got ready for the Passover festival and for the coming of Jesus.

11:55a

Now: This word here introduces some background information. It is not a time word in this context. Introduce this background information in a way that is natural in your language.

the Jewish Passover: This phrase refers to the Jewish religious festival called the Passover. This festival celebrated God freeing the Jews from being slaves in Egypt about 1450 years before Jesus was born. See the note at 2:13a and see how you translated it there. Translate it in both verses the same way.

was near: This phrase indicates that it was almost time for the festival.

11:55b

many people went up from the country to Jerusalem: There were many people there because all Jewish men were required to travel to Jerusalem for the festival.

went up: This phrase is a Jewish idiom that refers to going to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was built on a hill. So anyone traveling to the city had to walk up a hill to get there. In some languages it is important to say whether people go up or down when they travel. In other languages, this will be unusual or confusing. If it is confusing in your language, you can just say:

Many people came from the countryside to Jerusalem (God’s Word)
-or-
many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem (New Living Translation (2004))

from the country: This phrase means that these pilgrims came to Jerusalem from outside the city. They lived in the villages and small towns in the country (rural areas). For example:

from the rural areas (NET Bible Bible)

to purify themselves: This phrase means “to do their ritual cleansing.” The Jewish people did some washing rituals so they could eat the Passover. The washing rituals were not intended to remove dirt but to prepare the person to approach God. They were not allowed to celebrate the Passover if they were not ritually pure. (See Num. 9:6 and John 18:28.) Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

to do the special things to make themselves pure (New Century Version)
-or-
to get themselves ready for the festival (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to do what they needed so that God would accept them as clean

before the Passover: This phrase indicates that these people went early to Jerusalem in order to prepare themselves for the feast.

General Comment on 11:55b

In some languages it may be natural to reorder the information in the last part of 11:55b. It may be better to mention the Passover festival only at the end. This may make it clear that the ones who worshipped wanted to purify themselves before the festival. They did that so that they could join the celebration.

to perform the ritual of purification before the festival (Good News Translation)
-or-
so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to get themselves ready for the festival (Contemporary English Version)

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SIL Translator’s Notes on John 12:30

Paragraph 12:30–33

12:30

In response, Jesus said: John did not say that the crowd asked Jesus a question. In some languages it is therefore more natural to use a word other than In response. For example:

Then Jesus told the crowd (Contemporary English Version)

This voice was not for My benefit, but yours: Jesus said that the voice from heaven was for the benefit of the people, the listeners. God spoke his words to Jesus, but he intended them to help the people who were listening.

This voice was not for My benefit: The phrase This voice refers to what the crowd heard. God wanted the crowd to know that he had answered Jesus’ prayer, even though they could not understand what he said. Just knowing that God spoke to Jesus was a big benefit to the people. In some languages it may not be natural to say that the voice was not for something. It may be more natural to follow one of these models:

The voice was not for my benefit
-or-
This voice did not speak for my sake
-or-

⌊God⌋ did not speak for my benefit

but yours: This phrase is a short way of saying “This voice was for your sake/benefit.” It indicates that the voice was more for the crowd’s benefit than for Jesus’ benefit. For example:

This voice came more to help you than to help me.

General Comment on 12:30

In the Greek text and the Berean Standard Bible, the negative statement (not for my sake) comes first, followed by the positive statement (but for your sake). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Translate this verse in a natural way in your language to emphasize the positive statement. In some languages it may be natural to follow the Greek word order. For example:

Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours….” (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
Jesus replied, “That voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours….” (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus said to them, “That voice which you heard, it was not for me but rather for you….”
-or-
Jesus said, “That voice was not heard because of me. It was because of you….”

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 1:26

1:26a–b

“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know: John was declaring that he was not the important one. He was talking about someone in that group of people. That person was unknown right then but would be important later. The contrast between John and the One you do not know should be made clear. It may be natural to include a word meaning “but.” For example:

John answered, “I baptize with water, but there is one here with you that you don’t know about.” (New Century Version)
-or-
John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize.” (New Living Translation (2004))

1:26a

I: This pronoun refers to John the Baptist.

baptize with water: This phrase refers to doing a special ritual that uses water to show that God makes his people pure. In this context the ritual represented purification from sin. See notes on 1:25a and baptize in Key Biblical Terms.

John replied: The Greek text, unlike the Berean Standard Bible, includes the pronoun “them,” referring to the Pharisees mentioned in 1:24. In some languages it may be natural to use the pronoun. For example:

John answered them (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
John replied to the Pharisees

1:26b

among you stands: This phrase here means “is present.” For example:

But here with you (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
but right here in the crowd (New Living Translation (2004))

One you do not know: This phrase refers to Jesus. The people may have known his name, but they did not know that he was the Messiah.

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to those asking the question and the crowd who were listening to John.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 2:7

2:7a

Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”: The pots may have once been full, but as people washed, they emptied them. Jesus wanted to make sure all of them were full.

In some languages it is more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

Jesus told the servants to fill the jars/pots with water.
-or-
Jesus told the servants to fill them to the top with water. (Contemporary English Version)

2:7b

So they filled them to the brim: The pronoun they refers to the servants. The servants filled the water pots.

filled…to the brim: The phrase “fill to the brim” is an English idiom meaning to fill completely, to the very top.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

They filled ⌊each⌋ pot until it was completely full ⌊of water⌋ .
-or-
So they filled them up to the very top. (NET Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 3:14

3:14a–b

In this verse the Greek begins with the common conjunction that is often translated as “and.” Here it introduces an illustration that continues and advances Jesus’ argument. Some English translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version, explicitly translate it. You should introduce Jesus’ illustration in a way that is natural in your language.

Just as…so: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Just as…so indicate a comparison of one idea to another. Jesus compared his dying on the cross to Moses healing people by putting a metal snake up on a stick. Whoever looked at the snake was healed. Just as God gave physical life to those who looked at the snake, so he gives spiritual life to those who trust Jesus. Jesus was lifted up on the cross so anyone can see and believe.

In some languages you may want to indicate the comparison in another way. For example:

As…, in the same way… (Good News Translation)
-or-
It will happen like the time when…

3:14a

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness: This is a reference to a story in the Old Testament. Moses lived over two thousand years before Jesus was born. He rescued the Israelites from being slaves in Egypt and led them into the desert. The people rebelled against God and Moses, and God sent snakes to bite them. Then they prayed to God and he told Moses to make a bronze snake to heal the people. See Numbers 21:4–9 for the complete story.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 4:10

4:10a

If you knew the gift of God: Jesus wanted the woman to know this gift and want it. At this time, she did not even know what Jesus was talking about. In your translation, imply or state explicitly that the woman did not yet know about the gift of God. For example:

If only you knew what God gives (Revised English Bible)
-or-
You don’t know what God wants to give you (Contemporary English Version)

you: This pronoun is singular and refers to the woman.

the gift of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the gift of God refers to what God gives freely.

Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

what God gives (Good News Translation)
-or-
what God wants to give you (Contemporary English Version)

4:10b

and who is asking you for a drink: In this clause, Jesus was referring to himself. The woman did not know who Jesus really was, that he was the Messiah of God. She only saw him as a Jewish traveler.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

and who you are speaking to (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and you don’t know who is asking you for a drink (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
and ⌊who I am, I⌋ who am asking you for a drink

4:10c

you would have asked Him: This is not something that happened. This is what might have happened but did not. It did not happen because the woman did not know the gift of God or who Jesus was. If she knew those things, then she would have asked. Consider how to express a situation like this in a way that is natural in your language. In some languages it may be necessary to say this in the present tense. For example:

you would ask him (Good News Translation)

you: This pronoun is singular and refers to the woman.

Him: This pronoun refers to Jesus. Jesus referred to himself in the third person. In some languages it may be necessary to use the first person here. For example:

you would ask me (Contemporary English Version)

4:10d

and He would have given you living water: This is something that did not happen. It did not happen because the woman did not ask Jesus. But if she had known God’s gift and who Jesus was (things she did not know), then she would have asked Jesus. And if she asked Jesus, he would have given her living water.

However, none of that happened. It could have happened, but it did not. The conditions in 4:10a–c were not fulfilled.

As in 4:10c, you may need to make it explicit that He refers to Jesus himself. For example:

and I would have given you living water

living water: This phrase here means “the water that makes people really live” or “the water that gives life.” For example:

the water that gives life (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
life-giving water (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 4:10a–d

In some languages it is more natural to reorder this information. You might want to indicate that Jesus wanted the woman to know these things and then use an “if” clause as a summary statement. For example:

Jesus said to her, “⌊I wish that⌋ you (sing.) understood what God ⌊wants to freely⌋ give you. ⌊And I wish that⌋ you knew ⌊who I am, I⌋ who ask you for a drink. If you knew those things, you would ask me for a drink. And I would give you the water that gives life.”

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 4:42

4:42a

They said to the woman: The pronoun They refers to the people of Sychar. In some languages it is more natural to put in this information. For example:

The people ⌊of the town of Sychar⌋ said to the woman

We now believe not only because of your words: This clause indicates that there was a change in the people’s reason for believing. Before they met Jesus, they believed because of what the woman said. After they met Jesus, they believed because they heard Jesus themselves. In some languages it may be necessary to make it more explicit that their reason for believing had changed. For example:

First we believed in Jesus because of your speech, but now we believe because…. (New Century Version)
-or-
Now we believe, not just because of what you told us…. (New Living Translation (2004))

We now believe: The pronoun We is exclusive here, as the people were contrasting themselves with the woman. However, your translation should not imply that the woman did not believe. She believed, but for a different reason. You may need to make it clear that the woman also believed. For example:

we (excl.) ⌊also⌋ believe

believe: This word includes the idea of believing the facts about who Jesus was, accepting him as the Messiah, and what he did. But it also includes the idea of trusting Jesus instead of trusting oneself or someone else. Both ideas are very closely related. If someone believes the facts about Jesus, it should result in trusting him. See how you translated this idea in 4:39 and 4:41. Here are other ways of translating this word:

have faith in Jesus (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
trust in him

4:42b

The Greek text begins this clause with a conjunction that is usually translated as “for,” but the Berean Standard Bible leaves it implied. Here, the Greek conjunction indicates the reason why the Samaritans’ belief changed. Here is another way to translate this word:

because (Good News Translation)

we have heard for ourselves: This clause gives the reason why the Samaritans started to believe for a different reason. Earlier, they had believed because of what the woman said. But when they heard Jesus themselves, they had a stronger reason to believe and that made their faith stronger. In some languages it may be necessary to make the object of the verb heard explicit. For example:

We have heard him ourselves (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
We (excl.) ourselves have heard what he has said

we: This pronoun is exclusive and in this context refers to the people of the town, but not the woman. The woman had always believed because she heard Jesus herself, so her reason to believe did not need to change.

4:42c

we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world: This is the most important idea in what the town’s people say. It also forms the climax (most important point) of this section. Try to translate this with emphasis. For example:

we are convinced that he is the Saviour of the world (Revised English Bible)

we know: The pronoun we continues to be exclusive here. However, the town’s people did not disagree with the woman but agreed strongly with her. They also believed that Jesus was the Messiah (4:29b). So it may be natural to say:

we (excl.) ⌊now also⌋ know

the Savior of the world: This is the only time the title Savior is used of Jesus in the Gospel of John. 1 John 4:14 uses the phrase the Savior of the world, and Luke 1:67 and 2:11 use the title Savior for Jesus. Old Testament verses (for example, 2 Samuel 22:3 and Psalm 106:21) and Luke 1:47 use the title for God.

The title indicates here that Jesus is the one who saves or rescues/delivers people from evil or danger. In the New Testament the emphasis is on saving people from spiritual and eternal danger. That means rescuing people from the spiritual dangers of sin and the punishment from God that results from sinning. See Key Biblical Terms Save, Salvation Savior, C. In some languages it may be natural to translate Savior using a verb form. For example:

the one who will save the people of the world
-or-
the one who delivers people everywhere ⌊from evil⌋

of the world: The Samaritans used this phrase to say that Jesus is the savior of all groups of people in the world. He was not just the savior of the Jews. They did not mean that Jesus saves every person in the world. See the examples above for other ways to translate this phrase.

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 5:20

5:20a-b

In the Greek text 5:20a-b includes a conjunction which means “for” or “because” (“For/Because the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing”). The Berean Standard Bible does not make it explicit, but many other translations do. For example:

For (New International Version)
-or-
Because

In this context this conjunction introduces the reasons why he did (or could do) whatever he saw the Father doing. Introduce these reasons in a way that is natural in your language.

The Father loves the Son: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The Father loves the Son indicates that God loves Jesus. Jesus was speaking, and therefore it may be necessary to make it explicit that Jesus referred to himself. For example:

my Father loves me

The Father: This phrase refers to God. In some languages it is necessary to make this explicit. For example:

my Father ⌊God⌋

the Son: See the note in 5:19b and how you translated this term there.

5:20b

and shows Him all He does: This phrase indicates that God the Father shows his Son, Jesus Christ, all that he, the Father, does. The Son learns by watching his Father working. This is the second reason why Jesus could do whatever he saw the Father doing (5:19d).

In some languages it may be natural to make explicit the reference of one or both pronouns. For example:

shows the Son all that he himself does (New Century Version)
-or-
lets me, the Son, see all that the Father does
-or-
causes/allows the Son to see whatever he does

5:20c

And to your amazement: In the Greek this clause is a purpose clause. However, in some languages it may be more natural to leave implicit that this is a purpose clause. You could then follow one of these examples:

works that will astonish you (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Then you will truly be astonished. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
and you will all be amazed (Good News Translation)

He will show Him even greater works than these: God would also show Jesus how to do deeds that are greater than healing people.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

he will show him even greater things than these (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
The Father will show me even greater things for me to do

will show: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will show means “to demonstrate how to do something.” A person skilled at something does this when he teaches someone else. It is the same verb as in 5:20b.

greater works than these: The phrase greater works means “greater acts.” It compares the miracles Jesus was going to do with the miracles he had already done. In some languages it may be natural to say:

miracles that will be more amazing than the ones ⌊that I have done⌋
-or-
more powerful deeds than those deeds ⌊that I have already done⌋

than these: The word these refers to the miracles Jesus had already done.

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Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on John 2020